Box Score

MANSFIELD, Conn. – Sophomore Chase Lambert scored twice in a span of a little over seven fourth quarter minutes, erasing a one-goal deficit both times, but Eastern Connecticut State University junior Brianna Nolan made her second tally of the day a game-winner 4:46 into overtime as the Warriors beat the Keene State College field hockey team 3-2 Friday afternoon in the spring Little East Conference opener for both teams at Rick McCarthy Field.
 
Records

• Keene State:  0-1, 0-1 LEC
• Eastern Connecticut:  1-0, 1-0 LEC

How It Happened
Eastern Connecticut lost 21 of the first 22 all-time matchups in the series, but has now won two of the past four after they took an early lead in the opener and played from ahead for the vast majority of the game.  Prior to today, the Warriors' only wins over the Owls were a 5-4 decision in Keene in 2017 and a 4-0 victory in Connecticut in 2001.  Keene State cruised to a 5-0 win in their last visit to Mansfield in 2019, holding ECSU to just five shots, two on goal.
 
That was not close to happening today, as Eastern Connecticut jumped in front just 8:27 into the game when Nolan found senior Julia Koonjy, who slid a shot past KSC goalkeeper Victoria Watson and into the far side of the cage.  That proved to be the Warriors' only shot of the opening quarter, but the Owls themselves only had two shots, including one by Lambert that Keira Integlia kept out following a corner chance.
 
The shots picked up in the second quarter for both sides (7-5 KSC), but the scoring did not, as Watson made three saves and Integlia four, including a pair on KSC leader Nina Bruno five seconds apart late in the period to keep the Warriors in front.  The Owls pushed hard for the equalizer heading into halftime, getting three corner opportunities and five shots in the final 3:26 of the second, but could not score.  A chance by Paula Vasiliadis was wide and another bid by Bruno in the final minute was blocked as ECSU took their 1-0 lead into the break.
 
Keene State managed only one shot on goal in a quiet third quarter but kept the deficit at one entering the fourth after freshman Molly Edmark, whose second half action marked her collegiate debut, kept out tries by Corey Callahan and Isabel Sanchez in the final five minutes of the period.
 
The KSC keeper again came up big in the opening 3:06 of the fourth, making two stops and helping ward off three ECSU corners, and it eventually paid off when just moments later Bruno found Lambert in the middle of the circle to tie the game at one.  The tie did not last long, as Nolan answered not even four minutes later following a scramble in front of the cage off a corner, but ECSU's 2-1 lead lasted an even smaller amount of time, with Lambert finishing off Jordyn Martin's pass into the circle for a 2-2 tie with 3:15 left in regulation.  Integlia kept out Bruno's possible game-winner 45 seconds later and the teams eventually headed to overtime in their first competitive game in over 500 days. 
 
Keene State put immediate pressure on the Warriors in the extra session, with Vasiliadis and Bruno forcing saves from Integlia before Lambert sent a bid wide, all within the opening 2:29.  The Owls then got a corner opportunity, but could not convert, and minutes later it was the Warriors who did.  Edmark made a nice save on Sydney Collentine's initial shot as she was streaking down the right side, but Nolan nicely batted the rebound down out of mid-air and gave ECSU the win.
 
Edmark made five second half saves but took a tough loss.  Watson had made three stops in the first half.  Integlia picked up the win with a nine-save effort.
 
Penalty Strokes

• Playing with a different-looking spring roster, six Owls made their collegiate debuts:  Emma Cahoon, Demetria Gonzalez, Alex Bonacorsi, Vasiliadis, Watson, and Edmark.
• ECSU had not put double-digit shots on KSC since October 8, 2016 (12).  Overall, KSC had a 16-14 edge in that category.  Both teams had 11 on target.
• The Owls had a slight 8-7 edge in corners, but just one in the fourth quarter and overtime (ECSU had six in that span).
• Bruno would need 15 goals this spring to become Keene State field hockey's all-time leading goal scorer.  Sami Smith '16 currently holds that distinction with 90.

Up Next

• Keene State will travel to Division II Franklin Pierce University (8-11, 7-10 Northeast-10 in 2019) in Rindge on Thursday (April 1) for a 6:00 p.m. start.
• Eastern Connecticut stays home to take on Plymouth State University (8-10, 6-6 LEC in 2019) on Wednesday, March 31 at 4:00 p.m.